Benefits of Inversion Therapy Part 1

Inversion therapy may be best known as a method to relieve back pain, however it is also a successful method to reverse other negative effects that gravity has on the body. Over time, gravity can contribute to problems with circulation, height loss, prolapsed organs and general body functions. Inversion can also be used as a proactive approach to help maintain overall health. Hanging upside down can help to stretch and relax muscles, reduce stress and tension, and provide healthy movement for ligaments. Whatever your reason for inverting, Teeter Hang Ups® Inversion Tables are quality, time-tested equipment to help you on your journey to abetter back, better body™.Inversion Helps to Relieve Back PainInversion is actually a natural form of traction that uses your body weight in combination with gravity to decompress weight-bearing joints. While the body is rotated and suspended, gravity’s force applies traction, resulting in a customized stretch that elongates the spine, increasing the space between the vertebrae1, which relieves the pressure on discs and nerve roots. Less pressure means less back pain. Since every nerve root leaves the spine through a space between the vertebrae, discs that are plump and contained in their ligament “wrappers” are necessary to keep the nerve roots free of pressure and your body free from pain. Inversion offers a system of stretching and exercise that helps to slow or reverse the harmful compression of the body by gravity.

How does it work? The Nachemson study2provides some insight: A number of volunteers permitted a pressure sensor to be surgically implanted inside the 3rd lumbar disc. The pressure inside the disc in the standing position was set at a base line of 100% and all other body positions compared to it. Sitting proved to be much harder on the back than standing, but the real surprise occurred while lying down. The pressure inside the disc only lost 75% of standing body weight – it never went below 25%! This residual compression seems to be due to the hundreds of ligaments and muscles that encase the spine, holding it in compression like a mass of rubber bands. This study further indicated that the amount of traction force required to overcome all the rubber bands was a large number, approximately 60% of your body weight. Inversion to an angle of about 60° is the only practical way to offset that much gravity forcewhileremaining relaxed.